Switch forms for connecting one terminal to a plurality of other terminals

ABSTRACT

A switch for electrically connecting a first terminal with a plurality of other terminals. A contact movable into and out of electrical engagement with a plurality of base contacts is employed. The movable contact may comprise physically parallel wires affixed to a flexible plate, as well as wires which radiate radially outwardly from a point. The physically parallel wires may be inclined to the base contacts or the base contacts may be of different thicknesses to achieve sequential contacting of the base contacts by the movable contact. The base contacts may be any convenient shape, or in the form of concentric spirals or interspersed parallel segments or adjacent triangular-shaped segments.

Unite States Patent Adelson et al.

[ 1 Aug. 29, 1972' [54] SWITCH FORMS FOR CONNECTING ONE TERMINAL TO APLURALITY OF OTHER TERMINALS [7 2] Inventors: Alexander M. 'Adelson,Elmsford;

Jerome Swartz, Stony Brook, both of N.Y.; Walter M. Tomasulao, Jr.,

Wayne, NJ. [73] Assignee: Wild Rover Corp., Closter, NJ.

[22] Filed: Dec. 30, 1970 [21] Appl. No.2 102,822

[52] US. Cl. ..200/159 8,-200/159 R, 200/166 BH I [51] Int. Cl. ..H01h13/52, l-IOlh 1/20, HOlh 1/58 [58] Field of Search.200/l59 B, 159 A, 159R, l66P,

200/16 D, 83 N, 16 A, 86, 5 C, 166 BH.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,602,677 8/1971 Adelson eta1. ..200/159 B 3,437,973 4/1969 Mabbett ..200/86 RX 2,671,836 3/1954Anger et a1. ..200/ 16 A X 3,267,233 8/ 1966 Basile et al ..200/83 N1,004,005 9/1911 Ferguson ..200/16 A UX 3,506,795 4/1970 Schmidt ..200/16 A X 3,120,583 2/ 1964 Cornell ..200/ 166 P UX FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS France ......200/ 16 A OTHER PUBLICATIONS IBM TechnicalBulletin Circular Sequencing Contact; Vol. 13, No. 1; p. 219; by D. P.Fazzio; June Primary ExaminerRobert K. Schaefer AssistantExaminer-Robert A. Vanderhye Attorney-Robert Scobey, Robert S. Dunham,Pem E. I-Ienninger, Lester W. Clark, Gerald 'W. Griffen, Thomas F.Moran, Howard .1. Churchill, R. Bradlee Boal, Christopher C. Dunham andHenry T. Burke [5 7] ABSTRACT A switch'for electrically connecting afirst terminal with a plurality of other terminals. A contact movableinto and out of electrical engagement with a plurality of base contactsis employed. The movable contact may comprise physically parallel wiresaffixed to a flexible plate, as well as wires which radiate radiallyoutwardly from a point. The physically parallel wires may be inclined tothe base contacts or the base contacts may be of different thicknessesto achieve sequential contacting of the base contacts by the movablecontact. The base contacts may be any convenient shape, or in the formof concentric spirals or interspersed parallel segments or adjacenttriangularshaped segments.

15 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures PAIENTED I912 3.688.066

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sum u [If 5 INVENTORS ALBUM/55? M 140625 JEROME 5 14/457 BY W01 011?.4770 Mar SWITCH FORMS FOR CONNECTING ONE TERMINAL TO A PLURALITY OFOTHER TERMINALS BACKGROUND AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates to electrical switches. More particularly, it relatesto an electrical switch in which one terminal is connected to aplurality of other terminals, i.e., a three or more terminal switchingdevice. The invention is particularly applicable to the connection ofplural sources to a load.

The present invention involves switch forms that are derived from theswitch shown in co-pending application of Alexander M. Adelson andJerome Swartz, Ser. No. 787,853, filed Dec. 30, 1968, for SWITCH, andassigned to the assignee of the present'application now U.S. Pat. No.3,602,677. 1 r

The connecting of plural sources to a load presents difficulties,inasmuch as simultaneous connecting of sources to load may be requiredin some instances, and sequential connection in other instances. In thepresent invention, different switching forms are utilized to achieveboth simultaneous and sequential sources-load connections. The inventioninvolves a flexible-contact element having a flexible portion and acontact-making portion. This element is adapted to be finger ortouchactuated to provide for the necessary electrical connectionsbetween terminals. Different forms of contactmaking portions and basecontacts are utilized to achieve simultaneous or sequential connectionof terminals. In some instances, the contact-making portion may comprisephysically-parallel conductive segments, while in other instances thisportion may comprise conductive segments which radiate radiallyoutwardly from a point. In some instances the base contacts are simplyadjacent pieces of conductive material of any convenient'shape, whilecertain shapes, such as concentric spirals, interspersed parallelsegments and triangularshaped pieces of the same or differentthicknesses, are employed.

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to providing an improvedswitch, and particularly one which is suitable for connecting pluralsources to a load.

The invention will be more completely understood by reference to thefollowing detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a plan view of a switchembodying the invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are sectional views, to an enlarged scale, of the switchof FIG. 1, taken along the sections 2-2 and 3--3;

FIGS; 4 and 5 are vertical and horizontal sections of another switchembodying the invention and including spiral concentric base contacts;

FIGS. 6 to 8 are sectional views of still another switch embodying theinvention, incorporating base contacts formed from spaced parallel andinterspersed segments;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a part of a switch similar to that ofFIGS. 6 to 8, showing base contacts of different thicknesses to achievesequential connection of sources to a load;

FIGS. 10 to 12 are sectional views of another form of switchincorporating base contacts that are formed from triangular-shapedsegments; 7

FIGS. 13 to 15 are sectional views of another form of switch embodyingthe invention, incorporating spiral concentric base contacts and amovable contact com posed of conductive segments radiating radiallyoutwardly from a point; and

FIGS. 16 to 18 are views of another switch embodying the inventionincorporating base contacts in a plane and a movable contact in aninclined plane to achieve sequential contacting of base contacts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a switch 20 is shownmade of a housing 22 typically of non-conductive plastic material.Positioned in the lower portion of the housing 22 is a rigid base plate24 which also maybe of non conductive plastic material. Deposited uponthe base plate 24 are a pair of base contacts 26 and 28 connectedrespectively to output terminals 30 and 32. The base contacts 26 and 28advantageously may be of copper or similar conductive material. Aflexible-contact element 34 comprising a flexible portion 34a typicallyformed from brass or other flexible material and a contact-makingportion 34b, typically formed from plural electrically andphysically-parallel conductive segments, (e.g., wires) is positionedwithin the housing 22. The flexible portion 34a is positioned on theunderside of a disk 36, and the disk and flexible portion are'maintained in position between a pair of spacer rings 38 and 40(typically of non-conductive material). Electrical connection is made tothe contact-making portion 34b by way of terminal 41, which is connectedto the contact-making portion through the flexible portion 34a,

which, in this instance, is also of conductive material. An energydirector 42 is positioned over the disk 36 and serves to direct anactuation force roughly in the central region of the disk 36 to aid inmovement of the flexible-contact element 34 against the base contacts.26 and 28. Positioned over the ring 40- and energy director 42 is anactuation plate 44, which may be covered by an overlay 46 ofnon-conductive material, such as Mylar, for example.

The switch just described is virtually identical to the switch shown anddescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,602,677,

noted above. The major difference is that instead of utilizing theflexible-contact element 34 as an internal connecting means only, in thepresent invention electrical connection is made to this element. Thuswhen the switch shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is actuated by finger actuation ofthe overlay 46, which constitutes a touch-actuation surface, thecontact-making portion 34b moves into electrical engagement with thebase contacts 26 and 28 so as electrically to connect together theterminal 41 with the terminals 30 and 32. In the form of switch shown inFIGS. 1 to 3 the bridging of the base contacts 26 and 28 by thecontact-making portion 34b serves to connect the terminal 41 to the twoother terminals 30 and 32 substantially simultaneously. Thus theterminal 41 may be connected to a load, while the terminals30 and 32 maybe connected to two individual electrical sources, and the simultaneousconnection of sources to load is ensured.

The representative materials and dimensions given in U.S. Pat. No.3,602,677, referred to above, for the switch shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 areapplicable with respect to the present form of switch. Thus, the amountof force needed to complete the electrical connection between terminal41 and terminals 30 and 32 may be substantially less than 100 grams. Theconductors 34b may be roughly each 10 to 20 milliinches in diameter, andspaced over a distance of about 20 to 50 milliinches center-to-center. Atotal of eight wires may be employed for the purpose of bridging thebase contacts 26 and 28, and the spacing between base contacts andconductors 34b may be in the order of l to milliinches.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a switch similar to that of FIGS. 1 to 3, with adifferent form of base contact structure.

as are used in FIGS. 1 to 3 to designate like components. Since the basecontact structure is all that essentially differs, only that structurewill be described.

As shown in FIG. 5, the base contact structure comprises concentricspirals of conductive material. In particular, three concentricconductive spirals 50, 52 and 54 are employed. Suitable connection maybe made to.

v The same reference numerals are used in FIGS. 4 and 5 the spirals byway of output terminals 50a, 52a and 54a.

In this case, the flexible-contact element 34 bridges all the spiralsand connects terminal 41 substantially simultaneously to the three otheroutput terminals 500,

I 520 and 54a. It should be noted that the base contact structure issuitable for two or more concentric spirals; the three spirals which areshown are simply representative in number. It should be also noted thatthe spiral base contact configuration renders the switch completelyinsensitive to orientation, and the flexiblecontact element 34 may beaccordingly positioned with any orientation.

FIGS. 6 to 8 show another form of switch similar to that'shown'in FIGS.1 to 3. Again the only difference is in the base contact configuration.In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, the base contact structure includestwo sections 60 and 62. The section 60 includes spaced,physically-parallel segments 60a and 60b and 600, while the base contact62 includes spaced-parallel segments 62a and 62b. It should be notedthat the segments of each base contact are interspersed among thesegments of the other basecontact in an interspersed fork"-typearrangement. Conductive segments or wires 34b bridge the segments of thebase contacts to achieve substantially simultaneous connection ofterminal 41 with terminals 3th and 32.

In FIG. 9 an alternative construction is shown in which base contact60', corresponding to base contact 60 in FIG. 7, is of a lesserthickness than base contact 62 corresponding to the base contact 62 inFIG. 7. The difference in thicknesses results in the electricalengagement of conductive segments or wires 34b first with the basecontact 62' and thereafter with the base contact 66' to achieve thesequential connecting together of terminals 41, and 32.

FIGS. 21% to 12 show another form of switch similar to that of FIG. 1,involving still another form of base contact structure. In this case,the two base contacts are designated '70 and 72, and each is composed oftriangular-shaped segments, (e.g., segments 70a, 70b, 780, 7th! on theright in FIG. II, and segments 72a,

72b, 72c and 72d on the left in FIG. 11). Conductive segments 34b bridgetogether the two base contacts in joining together the terminals 41, 30and 32. As shown in FIG. 10, the base contacts 70 and 72 may be of thesame thickness, in which case the terminals 41, 30 and 32 are joinedtogether substantially simultaneously. The base contact 70 may be madeof one thickness and the base contact 72 could be made of anotherthickness, the same as in the embodiment of FIG. 9, to achievesequential connection of terminals. This technique is practical withcurrent technology utilizing photo-selective metal deposition, forexample.

FIGS. 13 to 15 show still another form of switch similar to the switchof FIGS. '4 and 5. In this case, only two spiral base contacts 80 and 82are employed, connected respectively to terminals 30 and 32. The uppermovable contact in this case does not include physically-parallelconductive segments as in FIGS. 4 and 5, but rather includeselectrically-common conductive segments 34b which radiate radiallyoutwardly from a point 86. These conductive segments constitute thecontact-making portion of the movable contact, while the flexibleportion is constituted by the flexible plate or strip 340, as in FIG. 1.As was the case with the switch of FIGS. 4 and 5, the switch of FIGS. 13to 15 is orientation insensitive.

Finally, FIGS. 16 to 18 show a further form of switch the same as thatof FIGS. 1 to 3, except in this case employing a differentflexible-contact element. The two base contacts 26 and 28 are the samethickness and lie in the same plane. The contact-making portion 34b,instead of being in a parallel plane, is in an inclined plane by virtueof wedge 90, which is positioned between the electrically-commonconductive segments 34b and the flexible portion 34a. The wedge 90 maybe of conductive material, such as brass. By virtue of the inclinationof the wires 34b, contact is first made between terminals 41 and 32 uponactuation of the switch; and then, upon continued actuation, terminal 30is electrically joined with terminals 32 and 41.

It is apparent that modifications of the above embodiments may befashioned. Accordingly, the invention should be taken to be defined bythe following claims.

We claim:

1. A switch for completing an electrical connection between a firstterminal and a plurality of other terminals, comprising: a movablecontact connected to said first terminal, and a plurality of basecontacts each connected to an individual one of said plurality of otherterminals, in which said base contacts are in the form of concentricspirals, said movable contact being positioned adjacent said basecontacts and movable into and out of electrical engagement therewith,said movable contact comprising a flexible-contact element having a flatplate-like flexible portion and a contact-making portion, saidcontact-making portion comprising a plurality of electrically-commonconductive segments affixed to said flat plate-like flexible portion andbridging said plurality of base contacts in the on condition of theswitch.

2. A switch for completing an electrical connection between a firstterminal and a plurality of other terminals, comprising: a movablecontact connected to said first terminal, and a plurality of basecontacts each connected to an individual one of said plurality of otherterminals, in which each base contact comprises a plurality oftriangular-shaped pieces of conductive material electrically common toeach other, said movable contact being positioned adjacent said basecontacts and movable into and out of electrical engagement therewith,said movable contact comprising a flexiblecontact element having a flatplate-like flexible portion and a contact-making portion, saidcontact-making portion comprising a plurality of electrically-commonconductive segments affixed to said flat plate-like flexible portion andbridging said plurality of base contacts in the on condition of theswitch.

3. A switch for completing an electrical connection between a firstterminal and a plurality of other terminals, comprising: a movablecontact connected to said first terminal, and a plurality of basecontacts each connected to an individual one of said plurality of otherterminals, said movable contact being positioned adjacent said basecontacts and movable into and out'of electrical engagement therewith,said movable contact comprising a flexible-contact element having a flatplate-like flexible portion and a contact-making portion, saidcontact-making portion comprising a plurality of electrically-commonconductive segments bridging said plurality of base contacts in the on"condition of the switch, in which said base contacts lie in a firstplane, and including a wedge affixed to said flat plate-like flexibleportion, said conductive segments are positioned on said wedge parallelwith respect to each other and in a second plane inclined to said firstbetween a first terminal and a plurality of other terplane so as toachieve sequential contacting of said base contacts.

4. A switch for completing an electrical connection between a firstterminal and a plurality'of other terminals, comprising: a movablecontact connected to said first terminal, and a plurality of basecontacts each connected to an individual one of said plurality of otherterminals, said movable contact being positioned adjacent said basecontacts and movable into and out of electrical engagement therewith,said movable contact comprising a flexible-contact element having a flatplate-like flexible portion and a contact-making portion, saidcontact-making portion comprising a plurality of electrically-commonconductive segments affixed to said flat plate-like flexible portion andbridging said plurality of base contacts in the on condition of theswitch, in which said conductive segments radiate radially outwardlyfrom a point.

5. A switch according to claim 4, in which said base contacts are in theform of concentric spirals.

6. A switch for completing an electrical connection minals, comprising:a movable contact connected to said first terminal, and a plurality ofbase contacts each connected to an individual one of said plurality ofother terminals, said movable contact being positioned adjacent saidbase contacts and movable into and out of electrical engagementtherewith, and said base contacts being in the form of concentricspirals.

7. A switch according to claim 6, in which said movable contactcomprises a plurality of electrically-common conductive segmentsbridging the spirals.

8. A switch according to claim 7, in which said conductive segmentsradiate radially outwardly from a point. 6

10. A switch for completing an electrical connection between a firstterminal and a plurality of other terminals, comprising: a movablecontact connected to said first terminal, a plurality of base contactseach connected to an individual one of said plurality of otherterminals, said movable contact being positioned adjacent said basecontacts and movable into and out of electrical engagement therewith,and in which each base contact comprises a plurality oftriangular-shaped pieces of conductive material electrically common toeach other.

11. A switch according to claim 10, in which there are two basecontacts, each composed of triangularshaped pieces of conductivematerial disposed in a semicircle.

12. A switch according to claim 11, in which the base contacts are ofthesame thickness.

13. A switch according to claim 11, in which the base contacts are ofdifferent thicknesses to achieve sequential contacting thereof by themovable contact.

14. A switch according to claim 10, in which the movable contactcomprises a plurality of physicallyparallel conductive segments.

15. A switch for completing an electrical connection between a firstterminal and a plurality of other terminals, comprising: a movablecontact connected to said first terminal, and a plurality of basecontacts each connected to an individual one of said plurality of otherterminals, said movable contact being positioned adjacent said basecontacts and movable into and out of electrical engagement therewith,and in which the base contacts lie in a first plane, and a wedge andconductive segments positioned thereon comprising said movable contact,said wedge positioning said conductive segments in a second planeinclined to said first plane so as to achieve sequential contacting ofsaid base contacts.

1. A switch for completing an electrical connection between a firstterminal and a plurality of other terminals, comprising: a movablecontact connected to said first terminal, and a plurality of basecontacts each connected to an individual one of said plurality of otherterminals, in which said base contacts are in the form of concentricspirals, said movable contact being positioned adjacent said basecontacts and movable into and out of electrical engagement therewith,said movable contact comprising a flexible-contact element having a flatplate-like flexible portion and a contact-making portion, saidcontactmaking portion comprising a plurality of electrically-commonconductive segments affixed to said flat plate-like flexible portion andbridging said plurality of base contacts in the ''''on'''' condition ofthe switch.
 2. A switch for completing an electrical connection betweena first terminal and a plurality of other terminals, comprising: amovable contact connected to said first terminal, and a plurality ofbase contacts each connected to an individual one of said plurality ofother terminals, in which each base contact comprises a plurality oftriangular-shaped pieces of conductive material electrically common toeach other, said movable contact being positioned adjacent said basecontacts and movable into and out of electrical engagement therewith,said movable contact comprising a flexible-contact element having a flatplate-like flexible portion and a contact-making portion, saidcontact-making portion comprising a plurality of electrically-commonconductive segments affixed to said flat plate-like flexible portion andbridging said plurality of base contacts in the ''''on'''' condition ofthe switch.
 3. A switch for completing an electrical connection betweena first terminal and a plurality of other terminals, comprising: amOvable contact connected to said first terminal, and a plurality ofbase contacts each connected to an individual one of said plurality ofother terminals, said movable contact being positioned adjacent saidbase contacts and movable into and out of electrical engagementtherewith, said movable contact comprising a flexible-contact elementhaving a flat plate-like flexible portion and a contact-making portion,said contact-making portion comprising a plurality ofelectrically-common conductive segments bridging said plurality of basecontacts in the ''''on'''' condition of the switch, in which said basecontacts lie in a first plane, and including a wedge affixed to saidflat plate-like flexible portion, said conductive segments arepositioned on said wedge parallel with respect to each other and in asecond plane inclined to said first plane so as to achieve sequentialcontacting of said base contacts.
 4. A switch for completing anelectrical connection between a first terminal and a plurality of otherterminals, comprising: a movable contact connected to said firstterminal, and a plurality of base contacts each connected to anindividual one of said plurality of other terminals, said movablecontact being positioned adjacent said base contacts and movable intoand out of electrical engagement therewith, said movable contactcomprising a flexible-contact element having a flat plate-like flexibleportion and a contact-making portion, said contact-making portioncomprising a plurality of electrically-common conductive segmentsaffixed to said flat plate-like flexible portion and bridging saidplurality of base contacts in the ''''on'''' condition of the switch, inwhich said conductive segments radiate radially outwardly from a point.5. A switch according to claim 4, in which said base contacts are in theform of concentric spirals.
 6. A switch for completing an electricalconnection between a first terminal and a plurality of other terminals,comprising: a movable contact connected to said first terminal, and aplurality of base contacts each connected to an individual one of saidplurality of other terminals, said movable contact being positionedadjacent said base contacts and movable into and out of electricalengagement therewith, and said base contacts being in the form ofconcentric spirals.
 7. A switch according to claim 6, in which saidmovable contact comprises a plurality of electrically-common conductivesegments bridging the spirals.
 8. A switch according to claim 7, inwhich said conductive segments are physically parallel to each other. 9.A switch according to claim 7, in which said conductive segments radiateradially outwardly from a point.
 10. A switch for completing anelectrical connection between a first terminal and a plurality of otherterminals, comprising: a movable contact connected to said firstterminal, a plurality of base contacts each connected to an individualone of said plurality of other terminals, said movable contact beingpositioned adjacent said base contacts and movable into and out ofelectrical engagement therewith, and in which each base contactcomprises a plurality of triangular-shaped pieces of conductive materialelectrically common to each other.
 11. A switch according to claim 10,in which there are two base contacts, each composed of triangular-shapedpieces of conductive material disposed in a semicircle.
 12. A switchaccording to claim 11, in which the base contacts are of the samethickness.
 13. A switch according to claim 11, in which the basecontacts are of different thicknesses to achieve sequential contactingthereof by the movable contact.
 14. A switch according to claim 10, inwhich the movable contact comprises a plurality of physically-parallelconductive segments.
 15. A switch for completing an electricalconnection between a first terminal and a plurality of other terminals,comprising: a movable contact connected to said first terminal, and aplurality of base contacts each coNnected to an individual one of saidplurality of other terminals, said movable contact being positionedadjacent said base contacts and movable into and out of electricalengagement therewith, and in which the base contacts lie in a firstplane, and a wedge and conductive segments positioned thereon comprisingsaid movable contact, said wedge positioning said conductive segments ina second plane inclined to said first plane so as to achieve sequentialcontacting of said base contacts.